Texas Data Center Pollution, Project Jupiter and Boulder Fire Risk — October 28, 2026

Today's news is mostly about how the power behind new data centers could affect the air, plus two Colorado efforts to lower wildfire risk.

Texas data centers could reverse air-quality gains

A new assessment from the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) modeled how meeting future data-center electricity demand in Texas could affect emissions of nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon dioxide through 2031, Newsweek reports. The researchers found the impact depends heavily on how the extra electricity is generated.

The stakes are real progress: HARC found that between 2002 and 2024, PM2.5 from Texas power generation fell by 60 percent, nitrogen oxides by 67 percent and sulfur dioxide by 80 percent. State records show data-center projects in Abilene, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, San Antonio, Austin and parts of West Texas.

Project Jupiter air permit hearing stays on for Dec. 7

In New Mexico, a hearing officer denied a motion to dismiss the revised air quality permit for a proposed gas-fueled power plant that would supply the Project Jupiter data center in Santa Teresa, the Albuquerque Journal reports. The public hearing remains scheduled for Dec. 7.

The 2.4-gigawatt plant would use fuel cells fed with natural gas, a design that does not burn the fuel. The Santa Fe nonprofit New Energy Economy had argued the developer's recent revisions need a fuller technical review. The New Mexico Environment Department said it is still waiting on information from the developer.

Boulder names its highest wildfire-risk neighborhoods

Twelve western Boulder neighborhoods are at the highest risk of wildfire ignition, and the city hopes to harden at least 20% of homes in those areas by 2030, the Boulder Daily Camera reports. Wonderland Hills, Knollwood Red Rocks, Flagstaff-University Hill and Devil's Thumb-Shanahan Ridge are in the "highest risk" group.

Homeowners currently pay for hardening themselves. City leaders have floated financial help, and whether to require it on the highest-risk homes is still an open question.

Colorado utility can now cut power remotely during fires

Mountain View Electric Association in El Paso County received a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory and the Colorado Energy Office to upgrade its system, KRDO reports. The new system lets the utility shut off power remotely when fire threatens its lines, instead of sending crews into high-risk areas.

The Black Squirrel Substation in Black Forest will be fully upgraded by March 2027, with the utility's other 24 substations done by the end of 2027.

Sources

• Map Shows Texas Data Center Boom as Pollution Warning Issued — Newsweek
• Project Jupiter air permit hearing to proceed in Santa Teresa — Albuquerque Journal
• These Boulder neighborhoods have the highest wildfire risk, city says — Boulder Daily Camera
• Mountain View Electric Association receives grant for wildfire mitigation — KRDO

Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.